35th Infantry Regiment (United States) - Vietnam

Vietnam

In August 1965, the 35th Regiment started their rotation into the Vietnam War, arriving in South Vietnam. They went to the central highlands at Pleiku. Final units arrived by Christmas 1965. The regiment was heavily engaged from April 1966 until 1972 throughout the area of operations in Southeast Asia. During this period, 25th Division Tropic Lightning soldiers fought in some of the toughest battles of the war.

During the Tet offensives of 1968 and 1969, Tropic Lightning soldiers were instrumental in defending the besieged city of Saigon. Due to its success in fending off that attack, the 25th Infantry Division spent most of 1970 more involved in the Vietnamization Program than in actual combat. From May through June 1970, The 35th Regiment and the rest of the Tropic Lightning soldiers participated in Allied thrusts deep into enemy sanctuaries located in Cambodia. In these Incursion operations, the division units confiscated thousands of tons of supplies and hundreds of weapons. This operation crippled the Cambodian-based efforts against American units. Following its return from Cambodia to South Vietnam, the division resumed its place in the Vietnamization Program. The war was winding down. By late December 1970, elements of the 35th Infantry were able to begin redeployment to Schofield Barracks. During the war in Vietnam, 22 Medals of Honor were awarded to Tropic Lightning soldiers.